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The European Union is supporting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, said Federica Mogherini, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, at a briefing in Baku Feb. 29.

She added that the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in line with international law remains a top priority for the EU.

Mogherini also said the OSCE Minsk Group is the format, which was agreed upon by all the parties and approved by the UN Security Council.

Negotiations as part of the Minsk Group are intended for reaching an agreement on practical steps that should be taken for the conflict’s comprehensive settlement, she noted.

The EU will continue to support all the actions aimed at peace-building and establishment of direct contacts between the two peoples separated by the conflict, she added.

There is no contradiction between these activities and the Minsk Group’s efforts – both of them are important for a long-term reconciliation, said Mogherini.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council’s four resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.